Spinnerbaits are popular lures used by anglers to target bass in weedy environments. Constructed from metal frames with paddle-like paddles (spoons) which rotate during retrieval to produce vibrations and flashes of light to attract fish, spinnerbaits produce flashes of light during retrieval and produce vibrations to attract bass.
Spinnerbaits feature three primary blade shapes or types. These are willow leaf, Colorado and Indiana.
The Blades
Spinnerbait blades are metal disc-shaped objects that rotate around the center of its wire frame or arm when being retrieved by fishermen, creating vibration and pressure waves which trigger fish to strike when being retrieved, as well as consistent light reflections, or flashes, that bass detect. Both vibration and flash attract bass fish.
A spinnerbait’s blade shape and size will have an enormous impact on how well it performs, with larger blades creating more vibration for faster fishing speeds; however, smaller spinnerbaits with very small blades may still work just as effectively as their larger counterparts.
There are various blade shapes that have proven their effectiveness on spinnerbaits, with three of the most popular being Willow, Colorado and Indiana blade shapes. Willow blades are used to simulate smaller baitfish such as shad or other species while Colorado and Indiana replicate mixed sizes of baitfish within pods or groups.
As important as its blade shape is, the size and color of a spinnerbait’s skirt are equally crucial to its effectiveness. A good skirt will help mask noise caused by spinning baits while creating more natural appearances; its color and pattern also have a dramatic impact on how fish react to it.
Weight of the wire used in the spinnerbait frame should also be carefully considered, since heavier wire will dampen vibration more effectively and make it hard for fast retrievals; lighter wire allows it to stay down while providing greater vibrational feedback.
Dressed treble hooks can also help increase spinnerbait catch rates by providing more realistic bait to bass than an unadorned hook would. Some anglers believe this creates more realistic presentations of bait to bass.
The Hook
Spinnerbaits are simple lures made up of a hook with one or more metal blades that rotate around a swivel or on its arm to produce different flash and vibration levels, creating the impression of small fish or prey for bass fishing. As with other crankbaits, a spinnerbait can be used by trolling it across lake bottoms or over grass or brush cover in lakes and reservoirs to catch bass.
Most spinnerbaits feature one short hook built into their heads; however, to increase bass’s chances of striking when casting in certain locations, anglers often add a second free-swinging hook at the tail end of their spinnerbait; this additional hook enables anglers to catch fish that strike further away than what the primary hook could reach.
Spinnerbait hooks should be pointed towards the center of its curve for best performance and to create a streamlined appearance and more accurate running action. Anglers may add soft plastic dressings such as curly tail grubs, single tail worms or quadratails with various colors available as additional enhancements and to alter its action upon retrieval.
Because its vibrating blades make a spinnerbait an effective bait in dirty or stained water conditions, bass rely heavily on their sense of touch when searching for food in such conditions – when water clarity prevents their eyes from seeing clearly enough to find food sources like baitfish schools passing nearby, the vibrations from spinning blades send out vibrations which make bass react as though one were passing by them! This lure’s vibrations give off vibrations which feel as though school of baitfish is passing by which makes bass respond accordingly.
Spinnerbait’s spinning action creates pressure waves that bass can detect via their lateral line system and hair cells within neuromasts of their inner ears, similar to how human voices are detected by these same hair cells. Once detected, these pressure waves help the bass find the source of vibrations caused by your spinnerbait (ie your spinnerbait). Vibration detection works similarly.
The Lead
Spinnerbaits feature conical lead heads. Their weight can vary according to the depth desired for fishing; heavy heads typically work best for deep waters while lighter models work well close to the surface.
Size matters when it comes to how a spinnerbait fishes. A wider, bulkier blade will cause more vibration while thinner tapered blades will produce less. Your choice of spinnerbait may depend on conditions and food available in your fishing location.
When using a spinnerbait it’s crucial that bass anglers learn how to utilize it properly. Many fishers simply toss and reel their spinnerbait out in one continuous movement – while this might catch some bass, it would be more effective to twitch and hop your lure like baitfish schools instead for maximum effect. This way you will cause bass to strike harder at it!
There are various kinds of spinnerbait skirts on the market. While rubber was once preferred, today the best options are made from silicone – this material does not melt when fishing multiple spinnerbaits on hot days!
Skirt colors can have a significant effect on how a spinnerbait performs. Vivid hues like green, blue and yellow attract bass that use visual cues to find prey; while contrasted skirts make the bait stand out even in murky water or at night.
Spinnerbaits can be an efficient way to cover large areas quickly in lakes quickly. When fishing near grassy flats or brush piles, or when searching on windy days when reaction baits may not produce results as effectively, spinnerbaits can often outshone reaction baits in terms of speed and efficiency.
The Weight
Weight plays an integral part in how deep a spinnerbait can be fished. Bass spinnerbaits come in various weight options from as little as 3/16 to one or more ounces depending on its intended depth range.
Spinnerbait heads are usually constructed of lead and feature conical shapes with weighted centres to maximize contact with the bottom when fished at slower speeds, as well as producing vibrations to help attract strikes.
Spinnerbaits must produce low frequency pressure waves similar to the internal organs of carnivorous prey in order to attract bass’ attention and be seen as real food, thus motivating their creation with different blade styles and colors. Bass have developed systems in their lateral line system and neuromasts within their inner ears that detect other stimuli, including boat traffic noise or seismic blasting noise.
An effective way to increase the effectiveness of your spinnerbait is to add a free-swinging trailer hook, as this will catch any bass that strike at it but are missed by your primary hook. Make sure the hook is attached securely at its R eye.
Spinnerbaits can be an invaluable asset when fishing clear water in early spring, though their effectiveness will diminish in murki or cloudy conditions. For optimal use, situate it near a bluff or shoreline where bass tend to feed and rest – these areas also offer shade, which reduces fish visibility of your spinnerbait and increases its effectiveness.
